31 MAI 2008

CE N'EST PAS L'ARMURE QUI FAIT LE HEROS MAIS L'HOMME QUI EST A L'INTERIEUR!

Iron Man is a 2008 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his personal assistant Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard plays military liaison James Rhodes and Jeff Bridges plays the villainous Obadiah Stane. The film was in development from 1990 at Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, and New Line Cinema, before Marvel Studios reacquired the rights in 2006.

Marvel put the project in production as their first self-financed film. Favreau signed on as director, aiming for a naturalistic feel, and he chose to shoot the film primarily in California, rejecting the East Coast setting of the comics to differentiate the film from numerous superhero movies set in New York City-esque environments. During filming, the actors were free to create their own dialogue because preproduction was focused on the story and action. Rubber and metal versions of the armors, created by Stan Winston's company, were mixed with computer-generated imagery to create the title character.

The film's stars have signed on for two sequels, the first of them scheduled for release on April 30, 2010, and Downey also cameos as Stark in the upcoming The Incredible Hulk. 

Jon Favreau chose another super hero to compose the score of his movie, a very huge fan of COMICS & MARVEL: Ramin DJAWADI. Writing a score for one of his childhood heroes was a dream come true for Ramin. Who better than him, who  considers  himself  as  an  "hybrid"  composer,  could  do  that  job  well  and  help  fly such a half-man/half-machine character?

Ramin, how would you describe or characterize your own musical style?                                          

Contemporary orchestral to electronic hybrid.

What is your technique when you’re writing music? Do you compose on paper or do you work only into a computer, or both?                                                                                                             

I write mostly on the keyboard straight into a sequencer usually with a piano sound or string sound. I pick up the guitar occasionally to write, but only for guitar driven parts or pieces. I never use paper and pen anymore.

What do you feel when you’re composing and what do you like in this process?                         

I like to get inspired by the story or visuals. I simply try to not think about the rules and work through my heart. I enjoy exploring different possibilities of how a scene can be scored.

How do you choose a project to work on?                                                                                  

I like variety. The more different the projects from another the better.

Did your way of working change along the years or according to each film?                           

The only time when I worked on paper was in college. After that I only worked on the computer with a sequencer.

How did you come on board IRON MAN and what were the requests you got from the crew?                                                                                                                                              

I’m a big comic book fan and I started to inquire about the movie when I heard that the composer job was still open.

 

Did you know why John Debney didn’t get this job, with John Favreau?                                   

No.

You told in an interview that you’re a huge fan of comic book. May you tell us more about that?                                                                                                                                   

I read a lot of comics as a kid. I still have most of them. They are all on my parents attic in Germany. They are in German and some are still in ok shape. I went back and found an old Iron Man comic and brought it back to show to everybody while we were working on the score.

Can you tell me about the temp track that was done for the movie?                                 

There was a temp track in there, but it wasn’t very good and I had never heard any of the music before.

 

So, from what material did you take your inspiration?                                       

Conversation. Jon would come over a lot and we would talk about ideas. He had a very specific vision that put me on my way.

How would you describe the story of the film?                                                                        

It’s very close to the comic as far I know. It beautifully shows the development of Iron Man in a very entertaining way. I think the movie turned out fantastic.

What was your approach to this score?                                                                                         

A lot of guitars combined with orchestra.  

Can you explain your stylistic and thematic choices?                                                            

Tony Stark has a behaviour like a rock star, so the rock approach came to mind. He has a theme for Tony Stark  and then two for Iron Man, one being more rhythmic and aggressive the other more melodic and heroic. Then there is another theme dedicated to his heart.

How would you describe your score?                                                                                     

The score is bombastic orchestral with a lot of heavy rock guitars and drums.

What kind of an orchestra and what size did you choose?                                                        

The score was recorded in London at AIR Studios and the size was about 70 musicians.

With whom (orchestrator, editor...) and how did you worked with them? Did Hans Zimmer “help” you for this score?                                                                                                      

My main orchestrator is Stephen Coleman. He will take my midi file once the cue is written and will then transfer it to a proper score. Shannon Erbe and David Klotz were music editors. Hans was score producer and was very involved with developing the score.

Did you use specific instruments, what kind, and what for?                                                       

I used a lof of ethnic drums and duclimer for the first half of the movie. The rest is standard rock set up: drums, guitars and basses.

 

Can you tell us more about the role oft he electric guitar?                                                                                  

The guitar really fitted Stark’s character. He listens to rock music when he is in work shop. Why not continue that vibe with the score.

What did Jon Favreau ask you about the role of the electric guitar?                                                                 

Jon had the idea about heavy guitar in the first place and we knew it set us apart from other super hero movies.

Iron Man travels around the world. Did you use ethnic references, instruments?                

A lot of ethnic percussion. I stayed away from vocals and duduk on purpose.

How did you use electronic sounds?                         

There is some synth sounds, but it’s mostly electronic percussion that I added.

We've heard rumors about sequels? Would you like to be part of that?                                  

It’s hard to say if I will be part of a sequel. Anything can happen, but it would be fun to develop Iron Man’s theme further.

How did you treat the “super hero” aspect?                                                                                

I tried to make him different from other super heros.

How much time did you have to compose your score?                                                                

 I started playing with ideas fairly early, but didn’t have picture until about two months before scoring. Picture was never locked until the very last day, so we went through a lot of changes.

Can you tell me about your upcoming projects? What else are you working on now?           

I’m currently working on Open Season 2 and preparing for the FIMUCITE, a film music festival in Tenerife where I will be performing some scores in June.

Can you tell us about Prison Break?                                                                                     

Prison Break is going into its fourth season, but we haven’t started yet. I have no idea where the plot will be leading us.

And Open Season 2?                                                                                                                  

This will be a very nice sequel. It has all the characters from the first one plus a bunch more. It’s  a lot of fun.

May we hope a release of Fly Me To The Moon score?                                                         

The film is set to be released in August 2008. Let’s hope that there will be score release then.

 

For a new project, if you could choose you a genre, a kind of story and a filmmaker, what would they be?                                                                                                      

I would love to score a movie that makes me cry and to write music that makes me cry. Something very touching and sad.

Among all your scores what are the ones you like the most? Can you explain us why?          

At the moment it’s Deception, I guess it’s the latest score besides Iron Man that’s out right now. I was able to develop my style further and it has a nice blend between orchestra, synth and guitar.

What would you advice to apprentice film composer for them to succeed in the business?   

To keep working hard. To take a step back if necessary. To have a good attitude. It’s a very hard business and sometimes I wonder myself how I can stay awake all these long hours.
                                                       
What was your real part in The Protector (composer RZA) project ?*                                           

I came on at the very end to help out on some cues. It was a favor, that’s all. We like to help each other out.

You worked on Batman Begins. Did Hans call you back for The Dark Knight ?*             

They did and I would have loved to join them again. However, I was still too involved with Iron Man.

 

Marvel or DC ?*                                                                                                                          

I love them both.
*Questions by Hybrid Soldier Yvelines (78), France
 
The main theme of "Beat The Drum" is one of the most poignant andhaunting melodies I've ever heard, and the score takes it through anunusual and impressive amount of variations. So I am wondering, sincemany people have said that you rather than Klaus Badelt wrote most ofthe score, is the main theme your creation?**                                                                               

I wrote all the themes for the score. Klaus functioned more as a score producer. I would like to thank him a lot for giving me the opportunity at the time. It was my very first feature score and I’m very proud it.
 **Question by Matt Lambertson

 

Do you have specific message to add for our readers?                                                              

If they have read this far, they must have read through all my answers above. I would like to thank everyone who is interested in my work. 

 

Musique composée par Ramin Djawadi

1. Driving With The Top Down
2. Iron Man [2008 Version] (Performed by John O'Brien & Rick Boston)
3. Merchant Of Death
4. Trinkets To Kill A Prince
5. Mark I
6. Fireman
7. Vacation's Over
8. Golden Egg
9. DamnKid (Performed by DJ Boborobo)
10. Mark II
11. Extra Dry, Extra Olives
12. Iron Man
13. Gulmira
14. Are Those Bullet Holes?
15. Section 16
16. Iron Monger
17.Arc Reaktor
18. Institutionalized (Performed by Suicidal Tendencies)
19. Iron Man (Performed by Jack Urbont)